Appliance for tensioning or tightening seat webbing and the like



July 29. 1924-.

G. F. FRENCH ND THE LIKE APPLIANCE FOR TENSIONING OR TIGHIENING SEAT WEBBING A Filed Jan. 23 1924 Z Sheets-Sheet l fi a Jam fit;

July 29. 1924.

G. F. FRENCH APPLIANCE FOR TBNSIONING 0R TIGHTENING SEAT WEBBING AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 25

, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 jrmz-an Patented July 29, 1924.

stares GEORGE FREDERICK FRENCH, 0F MANCHESTER, ENGLAND.

APE'LIANCE FOR TENSIONING 0R TIGHTENING SEAT WEBBING- AND THE LIKE.

Application filedfl'anuary 23, 1924. Serial No. 688,109.

To aZZ whom it may concern: H

Be it known that I, GEORGE FREDERIGK F BENCH, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Manchester, England, have invented new and useful Improvemen ts in Appliances for Tensioning or Tightening Seat l Vebbing and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object a simple and eflicient appliance for tensioning or tightening seat webbing when applying same to chairs, settees, and other like objects and for like purposes.

'According to the invention, the appliance comprises a loop-like, elongated frame, one or both ends of which lie transversely to the main length of the frame, and form an anvil or gripping member, while the other parts of the frame constitute a lever or handle, and also form guides for a sliding plate or further gripping member.

The webbing to be tensioned or tightened, say while applying it to a seat bottom, and while one end is secured to the seat frame,

. is passed forward through the frame above the plate, and then back between the plate and the anvil or gripping member at one end of the frame, the webbing thereby becoming held, while folded, between the plate and the anvil-like member, so that on the frame being placed with one side of its end or anvillike member against the chair frame, and its other end moved in a direction away from the chair, the webbing becomes gripped by the appliance and then distended or tensioned, until it has acquired the desired degree of tightness, when the operator proceeds to nail the webbing to the chair frame at that side nearest the appliance.

Upon the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 illustrates a face View of one example of the improved web strainer.

Fig. 2 illustrates a face view of part of a modification of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate further face views of examples of web strainers made according to the invention.

Figs. 5 illustrates the use of the web strainer.

In one example of the invention, Fig. 1, the appliance comprises a metal rod bent or folded upon itself to produce two arms or prongs a, a of equal length. For about half their length the said arms or prongs lie close together to form a handle 6, while for the other half parts of their length the arms are separated for a distance slightly greater than the width of the webbing to be tightened, such separated parts being parallel with each other, while the parts lying close together are slightly inclined to each other. On to the free ends of the arms or prongs is fitted a wood or other suitable rectangular block 0, the block being held to the rod merely by being driven on to same in like manner to a hammer head.

Prior to fixing the block, an elongated metal plate or cross bar at is fitted on to the arms or prongs of the rod, said plate or cross bar being a loose sliding fit on the rod and free to lie against the block 0 or move away from same. 011 its opposite edges the plate d may be roughened or serrated. Said plate or cross bar will usually consist of a strip of metal bent to form loops to engage the arms a, a of the rod and to extend across the space between the arms a, a.

Instead of projecting transversely into the block, the ends of the rod may be bent and extend longitudinally into holes in the end of the block, the end faces of the block also being grooved to engage the rods and thereby hold the block in the correct relative position, see Fig. 2. Shoulders may be provided on the arms of the rod to limit the distance the plate d may move away from the block.

In using the appliance, the webbing is caused to pass over the plate cl and then between the plate and block 0 the latter on being placed against a chair frame, and the handle of the appliance then moved in a direction away from the chair frame, causing the plate and block to grip the webbing and exert a pull on the webbing until the required tension is obtained, see Fig. 5.

In place of the wood block, the metal rod may be made longer and the spare lengths folded inwards and their ends caused to abut, see Fig. 3, such folded-in ends forming the anvil against which the plate d may lie.

In a further modification, see Fig. 4, the appliance may be double-ended, that is to say, it may be provided with a block or anvil at both ends and have two plates d (1 one for each block or anvil, the rod being bent to suit. In this case, one end of the appliance may suit for one width of webbing and the other for another width of webbing.

lVhilst chiefly for use in tensioning chair and like Webbing, the appliance may be used for tensioning Webbing for mattresses, motor-car hoods, and other purposes.

What I claim is 1. lVeb strainers comprising a frame like lever, a gripping member fitted across at least one end of said lever, at least one cross bar slid-ably mounted on the lever and adapted in conjunction With said gripping member to grip the Web, substantially as described.

2. Veb strainers comprising an elongated frame of Wire having parallel portions at one end, a gripping block fitted across the said end, a member slidably mounted on the parallel portions of the frame and adapted With the block to form means to grip the Web, substantially as described.

3. Web strainers comprising in combination' an elongated frame of Wire one end of which is formed as a handle While the other end is formed with two limbs disposed parallel to each other, a member slidably mounted on said parallel limbs, gripping serrations on said member and a gripping block connecting the two ends of said limbs, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

GEORGE FREDERICK FRENCH. 

